In New Eden Sector, chaos erupted suddenly. Screams echoed throughout the once peaceful street, now overrun with terror as people
ran wildly.
Franklin had a bad feeling as he grabbed his little sister Maya's hand, pulling her close as he navigated through the panicked crowd.
"What is happening, Franklin?" Maya cried, her voice trembling with fear, tears streaming down her delicate face.
Franklin didn't answer – he kept running, his eyes scanning the surroundings wildly for any signs of safety.
He witnessed the first attacks just minutes ago – people biting each other, friends turning into monstrous creatures, their eyes cloudy and skin grayish.
The eerie, guttural moaning haunted his mind. They turned a corner into their neighbourhood street, and Franklin's heart sank. Their house was surrounded with zombie.
His parents was already…
No. He refused to look. The image would scar him forever.
"Franklin, what about mom?" Maya screamed, following his gaze. He swept her up into his arms, shielding her face from the unbearable sight.
"We have to get out of here, Maya! Now!" Franklin yelled above the chaos.
As they ran, Franklin heard the eerie moaning growing louder, closer. He dodged a grasping infected hand mere inches from Maya's face.
New Eden Sector's emergency alarms blared to life, adding to the pandemonium:
"CODE RED. ZOMBIE OUTBREAK CONFIRMED. SEEK SHELTER IMMEDIATELY."
Franklin spotted a narrow alleyway between two buildings – their only escape route. He sprinted toward it, Maya clinging tightly to his neck.
"We are going to make it, Maya. I promise!" Franklin panted, his heart racing with fear.
They barely made it inside before the zombies flooded the street behind them, trapping them in a nightmarish world:
Moaning echoed off the walls, fists pounded against the adjacent building.
Maya trembled in Franklin's arms, whispering "Franklin, I am scared…"
Franklin held her closer, his mind racing for a plan to keep her alive. Franklin' mind racing, he quickly assessed the alleyway sanctuary:
The narrow passage was about 20 feet long, brick walls towered on both sides, with no visible entrance.
A dead-end – but temporarily safe from the infected horde, Maya clung tighter, her whisper barely audible: "Franklin, what is happening?"
He stroked her hair, trying to reassure her: "I don't know, Maya. But we will figure it out. We always do."
As he spoke, Franklin noticed a faint light emanating from a nearby dumpster and a fire escape ladder above, partially hidden by shadows.
The moaning and pounding on the adjacent building growing louder… suddenly, the dumpster lid creaked open – Franklin's heart skipped a beat but it was just the wind.
He looked closely into the dumpster, he spotted a backpack with supplies, first aid kits and a handheld radio with a faint voice broadcasting…
"Survivors, this is New Eden Sector Emergency Broadcast… seek shelter at Sector 3 safe zone…"
Franklin was filled with hope as his eyes locked onto the radio, he carefully retrieved the radio from the dumpster and held it up for Maya to see:
"Maya, listen! They're saying there is a safe zone – Sector 3. We might have a chance…"
Maya's trembling slowed slightly as she grasped the possibility of escaping. Franklin turned up the volume:
"…Survivors, proceed with caution. Sector 3 safe zone is located near Great Lake City hospital. Military and medical aids available.
Be warned: Travel only in daytime. Avoid large groups of infected…"
Franklin repeated the instructions mentally. He looked around the alleyway sanctuary.
Daylight is fading, they need to move soon.
"Maya, we need to get to the safe zone. We'll go to the rooftops – it might be safer than the streets."
Maya nodded bravely, holding Franklin's hand as he shouldered the backpack.
As they reached for the escape ladder, eerie moaning echoed louder, zombies were closing into the alleyway…
Franklin lifted Maya up to the ladder, his heart racing as the zombie hands grasped the alleyway corner mere feet away.
Fingers scraping against the brick wall, moaning growing louder. Maya swiftly climbed the ladder with Franklin behind her.
They reached the rooftop and pulled the ladder up, buying precious seconds. Franklin scanned their new environment, a series of interconnected rooftop stretching towards the city hospital.
Several infected and zombies roaming around, unaware of their rooftop escape. Darkness approaching rapidly, they needed to move quickly.
"How much farther?" Maya voice sounded barely audible.
Franklin pointed towards the hospital lights in the darkness. "See that, Sector 3 safe zone. Maybe 10-15 rooftops away. We can make it."
As they began their perilous journey, Franklin tested each roof connection before letting Maya step across.
Zombies below started to notice the rooftop survivors – moaning getting intensified. Suddenly, a figure emerged from the dark ahead, armed and wary.
"Who are you? How did you escape the initial outbreak?"
"TO BE CONTINUED"